This article reports some of the findings of a recent comprehensive review of the education provision of The Wildlife Trusts UK, one of the UK's leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned with nature conservation. These findings are set within the context of current thinking on responsibility for education for sustainability. It examines some theoretical perspectives on the nature and role of NGOs, and highlights the critical importance of such organisations making appropriate linkages both within themselves and also with the wider systems and structures within which they operate. Such NGOs have a key role to play in influencing policy and decision-making at the highest level nationally and internationally. This role would be very greatly strengthened if well-co-ordinated strategy and policy emanates from partnerships and collaboration among providers of education. In order to shift systems, organisations of this kind need to be strategically well placed and recognised as mutually supportive and effective parts of those systems. (Contains 3 tables and 2 notes.)